Hayao Miyazaki

Filmmaker / Animator

Born: 5 January 1941

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Best known as: The animator who made Spirited Away

Hayao Miyazaki's lavish animated features Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime, 1997) and Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 2001) have made him one of Japan's most successful filmmakers. Miyazaki began his animation career in 1963 at Toei Douga studios. He made his way up the studio ranks and worked primarily in television in the late 1970s and early '80s. He directed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds (Kaze no tani no Naushika, 1984), a film version of his popular manga (comic book) serial, and quickly became one of Japan's top names in animation. A string of critical and box office successes followed, many of which became international hits and award winners (Spirited Away won an Oscar in 2002 for Best Animated Feature). His features include My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro, 1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyûbin, 1989) and Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro, 2004).